Ohio State did not have a special teams coordinator in Urban Meyer’s first season as coach, but it will next season. OSU announced Friday that Kerry Coombs, who is also the team’s cornerbacks coach, has been promoted to special teams coordinator.
“Kerry Coombs is an excellent coach who has a great deal of experience and expertise with special teams,” Meyer said in a press release. “He is an outstanding teacher, an excellent motivator and he has a true passion for special teams.”
Before joining Meyer’s staff as cornerbacks coach last May, Coombs was the special teams coordinator at Cincinnati from 2009-2011, and was their defensive backs coach from 2007-2011. Prior to Cincinnati, Coombs coached from 1983-2006 within the state of Ohio at the high school level.
“I am incredibly excited and honored to be given the responsibility of special teams coordinator,” Coombs said in a press release. “The special teams have always been a part of the game that I have enjoyed coaching. These plays are so critical to the success of a team, and they can really swing momentum. I look forward to having an increased role in the development of them.”
Coombs will continue to coach OSU’s cornerbacks in addition to his new role.
Without a special teams coordinator last season, the Buckeyes blocked three extra points, two punts and a field goal, but also had three punts blocked.
The Buckeyes scored two punt return touchdowns and one touchdown off punt blocks last season, but gave up four special teams touchdowns (two punt returns, one kickoff return, one blocked punt).